Signaling a dramatic shift in Vatican tone, Pope Francis said the Catholic Church had become obsessed by “small-minded rules” about how to be faithful and that pastors should instead emphasize compassion over condemnation when discussing divisive social issues of abortion, gays and contraception.

“Jesus didn’t say women can’t be priests. He didn’t say that anyplace. It’s not in the Gospels anywhere. If we’re going to follow a literal sense, then all the priests should be Jewish,” sister Maureen Paul Turlish said.